How to Trim an Outdoor Door

Sanding

• 1

  Slide a playing card between the door and its frame while the door is shut. Use chalk to mark places on the door where the playing card sticks, then open the door.

• 2

  Sand the sides of the door with 50-grit sandpaper. Sand only the areas where you marked that the playing card sticks.

• 3

  Close the door and check for improvement. Slide the card between the door and the frame. Open and close the door to feel for sticking points. Keep sanding until the door feels loose in its frame.

• 4

  Remove dust and apply polyurethane to the sides of the door to prevent the door from absorbing more moisture through the exposed wood. Allow the polyurethane to dry according to the instructions on the can.

Planing

• 5

  Remove the door from its hinges and place the hinge pins back into the holders.

• 6

  Lay the door against a wall or against the door frame so that the edge you plan to trim is upright.

• 7

  Lay the plane down on the edge of the door and swipe the plane, blade-side down, over the edge of the door. Repeat this motion several times to shave off the side of the door.

• 8

  Reattach the door to the hinges, then open and shut the door several times. More planing may be necessary if the door is still sticking. Apply polyurethane to the door if the door fits well in the frame.

Sawing

• 9

  Remove the door and lay it on a sawhorse. Remove hardware from the door using a screwdriver.

• 10

  Draw a line on the side of the door you wish to trim. Use a pencil and a yardstick. If the door is hollow, do not trim more than 1 inch off any side.

• 11

  Score the line where the door will be trimmed by cutting a line through the door with a cutting knife.

• 12

  Trim the door using a circular saw.

• 13

  Sand down any rough edges with a 150-grit sandpaper.

• 14

  Paint the exposed wood in the door with polyurethane and give it time to dry according to the instructions on the can. Rehang the door after the polyurethane has dried.